Not Quite a Death Ray, But...

[Elspode]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070125/...e_us/ray_gun_4

MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. - The military calls its new weapon an "active denial system," but that's an understatement. It's a ray gun that shoots a beam that makes people feel as if they are about to catch fire.

Apart from causing that terrifying sensation, the technology is supposed to be harmless _ a non-lethal way to get enemies to drop their weapons.

Military officials say it could save the lives of innocent civilians and service members in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

The weapon is not expected to go into production until at least 2010, but all branches of the military have expressed interest in it, officials said.

During the first media demonstration of the weapon Wednesday, airmen fired beams from a large dish antenna mounted atop a Humvee at people pretending to be rioters and acting out other scenarios that U.S. troops might encounter in war zones.

The device's two-man crew located their targets through powerful lenses and fired beams from more than 500 yards away. That is nearly 17 times the range of existing non-lethal weapons, such as rubber bullets.

Anyone hit by the beam immediately jumped out of its path because of the sudden blast of heat throughout the body. While the 130-degree heat was not painful, it was intense enough to make the participants think their clothes were about to ignite.

"This is one of the key technologies for the future," said Marine Col. Kirk Hymes, director of the non-lethal weapons program at Quantico, Va., which helped develop the new weapon. "Non-lethal weapons are important for the escalation of force, especially in the environments our forces are operating in."

The system uses electromagnetic millimeter waves, which can penetrate only 1/64th of an inch of skin, just enough to cause discomfort. By comparison, microwaves used in the common kitchen appliance penetrate several inches of flesh.

The millimeter waves cannot go through walls, but they can penetrate most clothing, officials said. They refused to comment on whether the waves can go through glass.

The weapon could be mounted aboard ships, airplanes and helicopters, and routinely used for security or anti-terrorism operations.

"There should be no collateral damage to this," said Senior Airman Adam Navin, 22, of Green Bay, Wis., who has served several tours in Iraq.

Navin and two other airmen were role players in Wednesday's demonstration. They and 10 reporters who volunteered were shot with the beams. The beams easily penetrated various layers of winter clothing.

The system was developed by the military, but the two devices currently being evaluated were built by defense contractor Raytheon.

Airman Blaine Pernell, 22, of suburban New Orleans, said he could have used the system during his four tours in Iraq, where he manned watchtowers around a base near Kirkuk. He said Iraqis constantly pulled up and faked car problems so they could scout out U.S. forces.

"All we could do is watch them," he said. But if they had the ray gun, troops "could have dispersed them."

All potential protesters and rioters are advised to place a couple of Orville Redenbacher microwave packages in each pocket before heading out to the fray. Its a quick and easy lunch, and fun for the whole riot!

[yesman065]

Thanks for that mental image Els - People jumpin and running all the while popcorn poppin and flyin.

[Pie]

Originally Posted by yesman065

Thanks for that mental image Els - People jumpin and running all the while popcorn poppin and flyin.

Spinnin' and poppin', spinnin' and poppin'.

[Ronald Cherrycoke]

Originally Posted by yesman065

Thanks for that mental image Els - People jumpin and running all the while popcorn poppin and flyin.

A microwaveable "Oscar Meyer Weenier" also brings bad thoughts to my mind...OUCH!

[skysidhe]

Originally Posted by yesman065

Thanks for that mental image Els - People jumpin and running all the while popcorn poppin and flyin.

hehe yep. I see it too!

[glatt]

This could be a useful tool, but I fear the potential for abuse is very high. If it doesn't injure anyone, I think we'll see it being used on a lot of people indiscriminately. Since it causes a "terrifying sensation," each one of those people will then hate the US. They should call this the "enemy ray." Anyone you zap with it will become your enemy.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Since it causes a "terrifying sensation," each one of those people will then hate the US

Hate us? They will most likely be us.

Bush's loaded courts will probably let them go crazy with non-lethal methods, Tazer for crowds or small groups.

[glatt]

.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by glatt

.

mounted on a hummer.... it'll never get where it needs to go

[MaggieL]

Originally Posted by glatt

This could be a useful tool, but I fear the potential for abuse is very high. If it doesn't injure anyone, I think we'll see it being used on a lot of people indiscriminately.

Gee, If this was a "banning firearms" thread, we'd be hearing all about how non-lethal weapons should be preferred for self-defense.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Go back and look at the picture. Hardly something you can put in your purse, so that leaves it to groups with authority and no fashion sense.

There is potential for great abuse, like preventing citizens from exercising their right of peaceful assembly (read protesting) .....without them even knowing who is doing it.

This thing is here, it's not going to be uninvented. But it's a worrisome weapon, because it can be used illegally with no evidence that would be needed to to take anyone to task for violating your rights.

[Happy Monkey]

Does it cause arcing in metal? Glasses, zippers, belts giving third degree burns, destruction of personal electronics like cell phones, hearing aids, pacemakers?

[Elspode]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Does it cause arcing in metal? Glasses, zippers, belts giving third degree burns, destruction of personal electronics like cell phones, hearing aids, pacemakers?

Yes...if you turn it up to 11.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Does it cause arcing in metal? Glasses, zippers, belts giving third degree burns, destruction of personal electronics like cell phones, hearing aids, pacemakers?

Unfortunately, I don't think they care.

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Does it cause arcing in metal? Glasses, zippers, belts giving third degree burns, destruction of personal electronics like cell phones, hearing aids, pacemakers?

Odd, they didn't see any metal caused burns in testing. I wonder why?

...volunteers played the part of rioters or intruders and the ADS was used to drive them away. The experimenters banned glasses and contact lenses to prevent possible eye damage to the subjects, and in the second and third tests removed any metallic objects such as coins and keys to stop hot spots being created on the skin. They also checked the volunteers' clothes for certain seams, buttons and zips which might also cause hot spots.

The lesson: if you want to protest/riot, make sure you have good uncorrected eyesight and dump the coins. Do this and you'll never be hurt by this weap-- err, crowd control device.

One person suffered a burn in a previous test when the beam was accidentally used on the wrong power setting.

...unless someone bumps the knob by "accident".